25 years of Association Championships - 2025 venues announced

Netball Victoria has announced the seven venues that will host the Association Championships across May and June next year, in its 25th year of competition.

Shepparton Netball Association will hold the competition for the tenth time, and Warrnambool City Netball Association will also host after successful event delivery in previous years. Darebin Netball Association, Mountain District Netball Association and Bairnsdale Netball Association’s will host at their recently redeveloped venues at Narrandjeri Stadium, Knox Regional Netball Centre and WORLD Sporting Precinct respectively. Central Victorian Netball Association will host their first Netball Victoria event as a recently merged association in Bendigo.

The home of netball in Victoria, the State Netball Centre in Parkville will play host to the Central East and Central West 13 & Under divisions as the final qualifying day on the calendar, as well as Finals Day, as it has done for 21 years (excluding 2019 – 2021 when the centre was being redeveloped and the first year of Association Championships in 2000 before the State Netball Centre was first built).

The Association Championships provide more than 180 Victorian associations and leagues across the state the opportunity to compete in a crucial part of the Netball Victoria pathway, with talent identification opportunities for athletes in the 15 & Under, 17 & Under and Open age groups, and umpires at all tournament days across the state.

This year, Netball Victoria is celebrating 25 years of the competition which has been the first stepping stone for so many netballers who have since gone on to play for the Melbourne Vixens or represent their country for the Australian Diamonds.

Each year, Netball Victoria selects venues and associations in Victoria that not only comply with safety and operational standards, but have been fantastic ambassadors of the sport in their area.

Netball Victoria General Manager – High Performance and Pathways, Megan Simpson said:

“The strength of the Victorian netball pathway begins at Association Championships where the best netball talent in those regions is on show,” said Simpson.

“The Association Championships are integral to the pathway and development of athletes and umpires with talent identification opportunities at each event. This allows Netball Victoria to grow a strong pool of talent in both disciplines.

“We thank the associations who have been selected to host the 25th year of Association Championships. Their commitment to developing the next generation of netballers is much appreciated by Netball Victoria and we look forward to working in partnership with them to deliver successful events.”

To participate in the Association Championships, athletes are selected in their association and league’s representative teams, while umpires are selected and nominated by their associations and leagues to Netball Victoria. In 2024, Netball Victoria invited talent identified umpires from the qualifying days to officiate at Finals Day. This initiative will continue in 2025 to continue to support the development of umpires within Victoria.

2025 ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS VENUES

Learn more about Netball Victoria’s pathways at www.netballvic.com.au